A Daily Mirror editor contacted Straw on December 20 to inform
him that the paper planned to publish a story about the incident. On December 22,
Straw, who oversees juvenile crime programs and drug suppression efforts,
as well as law enforcement policy and administration in Britain, took his
son William to the police station, where William was arrested and released
on bail. Two days later, the Mirror ran the story but was legally
barred from identifying the accused or his father.

Mirror reporter Dawn Alford was also arrested for marijuana possession,
and then freed on bail. Scotland Yard later said that no further action
would be taken against Alford. On January 12, William Straw received
a "caution" by police for the incident. Oxford University told
the young man that his admission to the university is safe for next year
("Journalist Arrested Over Drugs Bought in `Sting,'" The Independent
(UK), December 30, 1997; John Penman, "Straw's Son Cautioned
in Drug Case," The Scotsman (UK), January 13, 1998).

British law that prohibits newspapers from publication of names of persons
under 18 involved in criminal proceedings, prevented British papers from
identifying Straw and his son. For several days, many British people wondered
which senior British cabinet member had a son who allegedly sold drugs.
However, William's identity was published extensively on the Internet and
in newspapers in France and Scotland. On January 2, a High Court judge
lifted the restriction in Straw's case saying that the restriction was "no
longer realistic."

Straw maintained his reputation as the most vehement opponent in Prime
Minister Tony Blair's government to legalizing marijuana. "The United
Nations regards drugs, including [marijuana] as dangerous. I too shall continue
to do so until there is evidence to the contrary." On January 5,
Straw said that medical marijuana could be prescribed by doctors only after
researchers prove that it has beneficial medical uses. "The law does
not say that, because a drug is classed as illegal, it therefore should
not be available on prescription. What it does say, however, is that before
drugs are available on prescription they've got to be properly tested and
researched. ... So far the medical researchers have not been able to
prove, indeed very few have tried, that there are real beneficial medicinal
effects from cannabis," said Straw ("Straw Rejects Cannabis as
a Cure," The Scotsman (Edinburgh, UK), January 5, 1998;
Ian Brodie and Roger Boyes, "Straw Warns of Perils of Legalising Cannabis,"
The Times (UK), January 5, 1998).

Labour MPs are calling on Straw to set up an inquiry into marijuana legalization.
Paul Flynn (Newport West), a left-wing Labour MP, said at least 30 colleagues
will support the call for a Royal Commission on the subject as soon as Parliament
reconvenes in January (David Wastell, "MPs to Press For Inquiry Into
Cannabis," Daily Telegraph (UK), January 4, 1998).

BMA SAYS CANNABIS-BASED DRUGS LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE IN A FEW YEARS

Dr. Bill O'Neill, the British Medical Association's (BMA) science and
research advisor, said cannabis-based drugs are likely to be legally available
within a few years. O'Neill said 17 research projects on the medical use
of cannabis derivatives are currently licensed by the government, and that
an application to the Medicines Control Agency to market a cannabis-based
product is likely to be put forward ("Straw's Challenge Over Cannabis
Drugs," The Independent (UK), January 5, 1998).

An earlier report by the BMA said that chemicals found in cannabis can
relieve pain in people with illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis.
The report advocated more research and concluded that cannabis is useful
for relieving the wasting caused by AIDS, treating glaucoma, promoting sleep,
and relieving chronic pain and muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis
and epilepsy. The report said many doctors consider cannabis effective in
treating nausea brought on by chemotherapy. According to the report, regulations
governing the use of cannabis have not just restricted the buildup of scientific
evidence about its effects, it has also forced citizens to resort to the
illegal use of cannabis to help symptoms that are inadequately controlled
by other drugs (BBC Online News, "British doctors back use of cannabis,"
November 18, 1997; see "Cannabinoids
in Marijuana Can Relieve Severe Pain, Researchers Report," NewsBriefs,
November-December 1997; "Medical
Use of Marijuana Ingredients Backed by British Medical Association,"
NewsBriefs, August 1997).

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY CONTINUES ITS CANNABIS CAMPAIGN

The Independent on Sunday (UK) newspaper organized Britain's first
public marijuana conference, held on December 11 in London. At the
conference, sponsors, including Virgin Airlines and Virgin Records boss
Richard Branson and Body Shop founder Anita Roddick, declared that marijuana
should be legalized because it is a largely safe drug and it can alleviate
some symptoms of AIDS, multiple sclerosis and cancer ("British crowd
urges marijuana legalization," Orange County Register, December 12,
1997).

George Soros, financier and philanthropist, said in an open letter to
the Independent on Sunday that he endorses their campaign to decriminalize
marijuana. Soros said that marijuana arrests are a waste of justice resources
and noted, "While I do not favor the outright legalization of cannabis,
I do favor its legalization for medicinal purposes as well as broader decriminalization,
provided adequate safeguards are taken to minimize misuse among young people."
He also said the marijuana conference organized by the newspaper was a "timely
step" toward a "more rational" drug policy in Britain and
he believed it would influence the debate in the United States (Reuters,
"Soros backs British push to decriminalize marijuana," December 7,
1997).

The Independent on Sunday said it will compile evidence supplied
by hundreds of doctors and scientists demonstrating the therapeutic and
nonaddictive properties of marijuana. The paper said the material will form
part of the record that it will submit to the government in response to
Straw's call for more information about the drug ("Cannabis: Look,
Listen, Learn," Independent on Sunday (UK), January 4,
1998).

A Mori poll for the Independent on Sunday revealed that 80% of
those polled want marijuana-laws relaxed. Forty-five percent said they were
in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical use, while 35% said they wanted
marijuana legalized for recreational use ("Eight in 10 Britons Favour
An Easing of the Law," Independent on Sunday (UK), January 4,
1998).

Hellawell has been accused of hardening his stance since being appointed
in October, but insists that he has not changed his views, "I like
to think of myself as a liberal and fair-minded individual." He praised
his deputy, Mike Trace, for admitting he once smoked marijuana. Despite
pressure for a debate from Britain's two most senior judges, the Lord Chief
Justice and The Master of the Rolls, Hellawell is against initiating a Royal
Commission of Inquiry into the law. "Royal Commissions are not for
single issues, but are held on the state of the nation. To my mind, the
Police Foundation inquiry will cover this territory just as efficiently"
("Cannabis campaign - I will listen to all positive ideas says
drug tsar," Independent on Sunday, November 30, 1997).

When the Independent on Sunday publishes Hellawell's e-mail and
postal addresses in January, Hellawell will have the opportunity to receive
views from anyone. In response, Hellawell said, "Mike Trace and I will
listen seriously to anyone who has a positive contribution to tackling this
serious problem."